By Maureen Renzi, vice president - communications

Before I get into how great this year’s PICPA’s Annual Convention at the El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico was, I’d like to stop and reflect on the fact that it was the 119th meeting. As I was listening to the AICPA Professional Issues Update presented by Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, AICPA chair, I wondered what people were talking about at the first convention. I’m sure it was about adapting to change.

When looking back at what was going on in 1897, the year we were founded, Charles and Frank Duryea were the first Americans to build a successful commercial automobile and the first to incorporate an American business to build and sell automobiles to the public. In the Journal of Engineering, the word computer was first used to refer to a mechanical calculation device. The point is that CPAs and the PICPA have always encountered change and have evolved over the years to identify new opportunities to provide valuable service to clients and employers while continuing to protect the public interest.

We are seemingly at those crossroads now ... or should I say again. During Ellison-Taylor’s discussion, she spoke a lot about the current generational differences in the profession and the changes in demographics that demand attention. The baby boomers are retiring, and it’s time that the following generations take leadership roles. She was proud to claim the place as the first AICPA chair from Generation X. Attendees got great insights from her presentation.

At the business meeting, Julius C. Green reflected on his year as president. We published a version of his overview on our CPA Now blog immediately following the meeting, but what’s missing from that summary, which he shared on-site, is his reflection on his personal journey over the past few years. It was a heart-felt tribute to the value of the connections he has made personally and professionally while helping to direct PICPA’s efforts.

When Lisa Myers was elected 2016-2017 president, her acceptance remarks again took me back to thoughts of how far the organization has come. Lisa quickly pointed out that as the fourth woman president (Susan E.S. Howe, Denise L. Devine, and Cheri H. Freeh preceded her) and as a forensic accountant, her role in the profession is surely very different than what the PICPA founders were discussing in the formative years. For her tenure, she promises to expand the diversity efforts and provide “emphasis on the cultural shifts needed to continually improve the balance of work and life responsibilities for women, men, and the next generation CPAs.”

The closing night reception was held under the stars on a private beach on the hotel’s property. As one member commented, “You can’t order this on Expedia.”

What makes the annual convention unique among PICPA meetings is the integration of technical and social activities. When members bring their spouses and children, a meeting takes on a completely different feel. I lost count of how many times a member said “And people think CPAs are boring” or some similar sentiment as we sang karaoke, played “horse racing games” at the opening night party, and lined up for henna tattoos. Some members took a day to explore the rain forest, while other did a tour of Old San Juan.

PICPA’s Annual Convention is educational, provocative, and fun. If a picture says 1,000 words, you can view the photo album on PICPA’s Facebook page to see a convention novel. If you follow us on Instagram, you already have a flavor of the event. 

Finally, to illustrate why adapting and embracing change is good, consider that when Dow Jones published its first stock listing in 1896 it had 12 companies. General Electric is the only stock on that original list that is still trading under the same name today. It’s comforting to think that the PICPA is still going strong 119 years later, and is poised to grow and evolve into the future.

If you want to get the full convention experience next year, we are headed back to the ever-popular Disney World. We will be staying at the Yacht Club Resort June 25–29. You may want to start making plans for a memorable trip for you and your family, and watch for meeting details and deep room discounts.